• Stefan Buchner, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “We sold more than 1,000,000 Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks in the past 20 years. This makes our Actros the most successful premium heavy-duty truck in the world. Now we are proud to celebrate additional Millions: Three Actros trucks from the UAE, each with more than 1,000,000 kilometers! This is a great achievement and illustrates the loyalty of our customers based on the unprecedented reliability of our Actros.”

Dubai, UAE: Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA FZE and Mercedes-Benz Trucks have celebrated the occasion of 20 years of Actros in the Middle East and in North Africa (MENA). The celebration took place on November 9, 2016 in Dubai, when three UAE customers, Al Jaber Leasing Services, Western Bainoona Group and Mubarak & Sons Transport, were rewarded as ‘Actros Mileage Millionaires’ for reaching mileages of more than 1 Mio. kilometers with their Actros trucks. Stefan Buchner, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “We sold more than 1,000,000 Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks in the past 20 years. This makes our Actros the most successful premium heavy-duty truck in the world. Now we are proud to celebrate additional Millions: Three Actros trucks from the UAE, each with more than 1,000,000 kilometers! This is a great achievement and illustrates the loyalty of our customers based on the unprecedented reliability of our Actros.”

The three Actros trucks showcased at the event have driven altogether 4.7 Million kilometers in overall 33 years of operation. This equals 30,000 times driving the distance between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. All trucks are ‘first-hand’ and were originally purchased from Emirates Motor Company (EMC), the Mercedes-Benz authorized distributor in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and Gargash Enterprises, the authorized General Distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

The top ‘Mileage Millionaire’ is a 1st generation Actros model 3848 with a tanker body, which has achieved a mileage of 1,910,295 kilometers since its launch in the fleet of Al Jaber Leasing Services in 2002. Marwan Seif, General Manager of Al Jaber Leasing Services: “We have more than 1,000 Mercedes-Benz Actros Trucks in our fleet ranging from model year 2000 to 2015, operated in the UAE, Qatar and KSA. Our effective maintenance programs, along with the strong collaboration with Emirates Motor Company’s product support teams were the main facilitators of this achievement. Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks have proven their reliability in our vast fleet and play an important role in our operations in the GCC.”

The two other Actros are of the 2nd model generation (2008), having reached a mileage of 1.55 Mio kilometers and 1.24 Mio kilometers. The latter Actros has an engine operation of more than 33,500 hours since its launch in the fleet of Western Bainoona Group in 2008 – this is an average of more than 10 hours per day over the entire period.

The heavy-duty Actros tractor-heads are mainly used with tipper-trailers, carrying heavy equipment and material from construction sites and quarries with loads of 60 tonnes and above. The trucks are operated all across the United Arab Emirates, from the Northern Emirates to Abu Dhabi and the border to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the south.

Roland Schneider, President & CEO of Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA: “After having reached the milestone of 100,000th Actros sold in MENA in September this year, we are now delighted to reward our valued customers Al Jaber Leasing Services, Mubarak & Sons Transport and Western Bainoona Group as ‘Actros Mileage Millionaires’. Their Actros have reached a total mileage of 4.7 Mio. kilometers – certainly a remarkable figure for three trucks, however we know that a mileage well beyond 1 Mio. kilometers is not unusual for a Mercedes-Benz Actros. Our Actros proofs day-to-day what robustness and reliability means and our customers know that the Actros is a real ‘Truck they can trust’.

The holders of the ‘Actros Mileage Millionaires’ received a ‘Rejuvenation Package’ for their trucks, containing a customized bundle of Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts, MB Oil and other original fluids, equipping the award trucks for the next million kilometers.

During the event, a latest model Actros 3844 S tractor-head was revealed, featuring a special ’20 years of Actros’ branding. The truck is equipped with a highly fuel-efficient 6-cylinder engine (Euro 3) boosting 435 hp, combined with the comfortable 16-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated gearbox.

As a highlight, the ‘Special Edition’ Actros comes with various state-of-the art safety features, such as Active Brake Assist, Telligent® Proximity Control and Telligent® Lane Assistant. The Active Brake Assist operates with three radar beams, which scan a zone of 7 to 150 meters ahead of the truck. The system gives visual and audile alerts to the driver in case of hazardous obstacles ahead, and, if needed, initiates a braking maneuver and emergency braking to standstill. Telligent® Proximity Control automatically adjusts the speed of the truck according to the traffic situation, constantly analyzing the distance to vehicles driving in front. And the Telligent® Lane Assistant helps the driver to stay in lane by giving audible warning signals when leaving the traffic lane.

Roland Schneider adds: “In its 20th year, the Actros is in ‘best shape’. The ’20 Years Edition’ impressively demonstrates the technology leadership of Mercedes-Benz Trucks in the field of safety, contributing to make the roads here in the region safer, for both the truck driver and other road users.”